Game apparatus



@sin 2l 592% LSEZJZZ G. SZKELY GAME APPARATU S Filed5 May 14 1923 Patented @et 21, 1924..

NETE@ STTES GZA SZKELY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application led May 14,

To all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that I, .GZA SZKELY, a citizen of Hungary, residing at New York, in the county'of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Game Apparatus. of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates generally to a game apparatus, having more particular reference to a game apparatus including a number of pins set freely on a board or table to be knocked down, the player being credited with a certain number of points'for each pin knocked down.

The present invention has for an object to provide a novel game of this sort in which the moving element for knocking down the pins is in the form of a spinning top which travels haphazard over the board, a further object relating specifically to the means for holding the top while it is first being spun, and for projecting the top on to the board or table. j

F or further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference Will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of thc invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings, is a perspective View of my improved gameboard.

Fig. 2 is a part side elevation and part longitudinal vertical sectional view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end view showing particularly the means for holding the top While being spun and then projecting it on the gameboard.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the same means.

'Fig 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view of one of the pins to be knocked down.

My improved game apparatus comprises a Hat base element or board 10 which is elongated in one direction, and has one end rounded to semi-circular form and the other end square. Around this board an upstanding flange or wall 11 extends completely and serves to confine the top when the latter is projected onto the surface of the gameboard. Extending between opposite side elements of the surrounding wall 11 are a pair of transverse partitions 12 which separate the surface of the game- 1923. Serial No. 638,696.

board into three divisions. These partition members are formed each with a number of openings 13 which extend up from the surface of the board and are of a size to` permit of passage of the spinning top therethrough. These parts are preferably constructed of wood such as mahogany.

The top surface of the board may be covered with a sheet 15 of green baize, and upon this sheet of green haize a pane of glass 16 is placed and forms the surface along which the spinning top'moves. Suitably formed on the gameboard, under the glass pane 16, are disks 17 which serve as spots to locate the pins which are to oe knocked down by the top. It will be understood of course that these disks may be of ivory or the like set into thesnrface ofthe board or they might be simply painted on the underside of the glass. There are a number or series of these disks located in eachy compartment into' which the gameboard is divided by the partitions 12 as shown in Fig. 1. The pins to be placed on this glass pane above these disks are shown at 18 and may be of the general shape of nine-pins, though being preferably turned to ornamental form as shown.

The top starts from the square end of the gameboard, and a suitable device of novel construction is provided in the end element 11 of the wall 11 to hold the top while beingl spun. The top may be of well known construction, comprising a body 20 and integral drum or reel 21 to receive the cord for spinning it, and having the pointed ends 22 and 23, on the latter of which the top spins.

An opening 25 of some size is formed in the wall element 11 and in the bottom of said opening is set a metal plate 26 whose top face is flush with the surface of the pane 16 and which is formed with arecess 27 to receive the point 22 of the top. Extending vertically through the wall element 11 from the top of the opening 25 upward, and in alinement with the recess 27 in the plate 2,6 is a spindle 28 having a short spiral groove or slot 29 in the side thereof into which projects a pin 30 fixed in the wall element 11. The spindle has a knob 31 on its upper end by turning of which the spindle may be moved vertically to bring its lower end in which is a recess 32, into engagement with the top point 23 of the top.

Fixed to the spindle 28 is a gear 35 which meshes with an idler 36 supported in a suitable recess 37 in the wall member 11 and engaging in turn with a gear 38 fixed on the upper end of a shaft 39 extending vertically in the said wall member, thegear 38 being smaller than the gear 35. Upon the lower end of shaft 39 isan arm 40 which is adapted to be swung from, its normal position lying confined within a suitable recess 41 in the bottom of the wall member 11 in a direction to engage the lower end 22 of the top and move the same from the recess 27 and so project the top onto the glass pane 17.

The manner in which my improved game is played, and of utilization and operation of the vario-us parts, is as follows: The pins 18 are set on the pins above the disks. A suitable cord is wound on the reel 21 of the top. The latter is then placed in the opening 25 with its lower end enga-ged in the recess 27 the spindle 28 being drawn upward by turning the knob 31, a sufficient distance to clear the upper end of the top, the parts being s proportioned that the turning movement of the spindle necessary to lift it the required distance will not be sufficient to move the arm 40 in front of the opening 25.v The spindle is then moved downward until the recess 32 in its lower end engages with the lpointed upper end 23 of the top:- The cord being grasped and pulled, the top is started spinning while still held between the members 26 and 28. The spindle is then rot-ated to lift the lower end thereof from the spinningtop and this rotation is continued sufficiently to swing the arm 40 into the opening 25 and against the lower end of the top and so project the latter from the recess 27 and unto the glass pane 16. The inner end of recess 27 may be given a more gradual inclination than the outer as shown so as to facilitate movement of the top therefrom.

The spinning top as will be understood, wanders hapha'zard over the gameboard, striking certain of the pins 18 and knocking them down. It may pass, while spinning, through any of the openings 13 in the partitions 12. Each pin knocked do-wn represents a certain number of points, the num ber being marked on the disks 17 if desired. The number of points credited for knocking down certain pins preferably progressively increases according to the location of the pin in the first, second or third compartments, counting from the end at which the top starts. For instance the pins in the first compartment may each count ten points, those in the second compartment each twenty points, and those in the third thirty points, except that in the last compartment two of the central pins which are difficult l to reach may have higher credit points. The total points are added up and credited to the player when the top has ceased spinnin l\ y improved gameboard may either be arranged to be placed on a table while in use, or may be provided with legs 45 adapted to be screwed into suitablesockets on the underside of the base member 10.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

" 1. A game apparatus comprising a board formed with a socket to receive the bottom end of a top, a vertical spindle supported by and above said board for both rotary and axial movement, and having a. socket to re- 'ceive the 'upper end of a top, means for causing said spindle to move vertically to engage it with or free it from the top upon rotary movement being imparted to the spindle and means adapted to be operated by rotary movement of said spindle for engaging the lower end of the top and imparting forward bodily movement to said top to project the latter upon the said board.

2. A game apparatus comprising a board formed with a socket to receive the bottom endof a top, a vertical spindle supported by and above said board for both rot-ary and axial movement, and having a socket to receive the upper end of a top, means for causing said, spindle to move vertically to engage it with or free it from the top upon rotary movement being imparted to the spindle and means adapted to be operated by rotary movement of said spindle for engaging the lower end of the to-p and imparting forward bodily movement to said top to project the latter upon the said board, said last means comprising an arm adapted to bear on said top, a shaft on which said arm is fixed, and gea-r connections between said shaft and spindle.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board formed with a socket to receive the bottom end of a top, a vertical spindle' supported by and above said board for4 both vertical and rotary movement and having a socket in its lower end to receive the upper end of a top*` said spindle being formed in its side with a helical groove, a fixed pin engaging freely in said groove and adapted to causel vertical movement tobe imparted to the spindle upon rotary movement thereof,` a vertical shaft, an arm fixedv on said shaft and adapted to engage theflower end of the top to project the latter upon the said board, and gear connections between the said shaft and spindle.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

GZA SZKELY. 

